Wittenborg’s Christmas Drink Event Caps Successful Year

A Festive Evening of Connection and Celebration

On 18 December, Wittenborg hosted its annual Christmas Drinks event, bringing together staff, students, and partners to celebrate the holiday season. Organised by Sophia Faraji, External Relations & Events Manager, the event was attended by 160 people.

The evening took place at NExTT Drinks & Soulfood in Apeldoorn, marking the conclusion of the school’s December Project Week, which focused on SDG #4: Quality Education & Lifelong Learning.

Throughout the week, students worked on innovative solutions to improve global education, and their ideas were showcased in poster presentations, offering fresh perspectives on enhancing educational practices worldwide.

The evening was all about promoting community spirit, celebrating the holiday season, and providing an informal networking opportunity. Sophia described the purpose of the event as a way “to reflect on the year’s achievements and share goodwill in a festive atmosphere.” She added, “It’s also a chance to connect with each other in a safe, equitable, and harmonious environment.”

A key moment of the evening was the announcement of the student representatives for 2024-2025. The first-place winner was Mohammadali Dana, followed by Shirin Sadeghi in second place and Fatemeh Jamshidparvar in third.

The event also included a heartfelt farewell to lecturer Lasantha De Silva.

Allegra Zazzaro, Admissions Administrator, reflected on the importance of the event, saying, “It’s extremely important to host these events, as they help foster connection and collaboration. It’s also a great opportunity to enjoy some fun activities together.” Allegra’s favourite part was interacting with students and colleagues, sharing fun moments.

Her colleague Maulik Barot, Admissions Administrator, added, “I enjoyed the part where I met my friends and colleagues and had drinks and nice conversation with them.”

The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with a DJ performance by Wittenborg student Oluwatobi Lawal, who played songs from different countries, adding to the festive vibe. Oluwatobi also highlighted the importance of the event, saying, “This is the time the whole school gathers not for academic purposes but to have fun and exchange cultures through music and dancing.” He added, “After the announcement of the student reps, the atmosphere shifted from curiosity to excitement, making it easy to energise the crowd with music from different countries.”

Sophia described the event as having a “sense of togetherness and celebration,” and added that her favourite moment was “seeing everyone relaxed and enjoying themselves, reflecting the true spirit of the season.”

Earlier in December, Wittenborg’s students and staff embraced the holiday spirit by going ice skating at Museumplein in Amsterdam, while those in Munich attended the Münchner Christkindlmarkt to enjoy the festive atmosphere.